Research Evidence Anecdotal Efficacy Side Effects Price Dosing & Protocol Regulatory Safety Notes

GDF-8 (Myostatin)

No completed human trials extracted for GDF-8 (Myostatin). Animal-model evidence carries the indication cards below.

Data last updated July 23, 2026

Measured on 2 of 6 axes

Research Evidence

Evidence shape

GDF-8 research is currently restricted to animal models, with no published human clinical trials available to validate its efficacy or safety. The existing literature is limited to preclinical and mechanistic studies, meaning there is no data from human subjects to support any therapeutic application. Because no trials have been registered or completed in humans, the evidence base remains entirely theoretical and lacks the necessary scale to move beyond basic laboratory investigation.

Depthhow much

0 registered trials

Breadthhow many areas

1 indication mapped

1 animal-only

Qualityhow rigorous

No completed trials

Breadth and depth17 rows captured

Human

direct clinical signal

0

Animal

translational support

12

In vitro

mechanistic support

5

HighMediumLow

Source data

Every row behind the score.

17 total

AnimalPMID 14554215

Preclinical / mechanistic research

tested mouse · Bone architecture and disc degeneration in the lumbar spine of mice lacking GDF-8 (myostatin). (PMID 14554215 · DOI 10.1016/s0736-0266(03)00105-0)

result Preclinical publication captured from PubMed/Europe PMC; effect details require paper-level extraction.

AnimalPMID 17959898

Preclinical / mechanistic research

tested mouse · Craniofacial morphology in myostatin-deficient mice.

result Preclinical publication captured from PubMed/Europe PMC; effect details require paper-level extraction.

AnimalPMID 19899116

Preclinical / mechanistic research

tested mouse · Age-related changes in craniofacial morphology in GDF-8 (myostatin)-deficient mice.

result Preclinical publication captured from PubMed/Europe PMC; effect details require paper-level extraction.

AnimalPMID 28074479

Preclinical / mechanistic research

tested mouse · GDF8 inhibits bone formation and promotes bone resorption in mice.

result Preclinical publication captured from PubMed/Europe PMC; effect details require paper-level extraction.

AnimalPMID 32165710

Preclinical / mechanistic research

tested mouse · Exogenous GDF11, but not GDF8, reduces body weight and improves glucose homeostasis in mice.

result Preclinical publication captured from PubMed/Europe PMC; effect details require paper-level extraction.

AnimalPMID 33847569

Preclinical / mechanistic research

tested rat · Expression and significance of related genes in the early stage of post-traumatic heterotopic ossification in a rat model of Achilles tenotomy.

result Preclinical publication captured from PubMed/Europe PMC; effect details require paper-level extraction.

AnimalPMID 39982358

Preclinical / mechanistic research

tested mouse · CRISPR/Cas9-Targeted <i>Myostatin</i> Deletion Improves the Myogenic Differentiation Parameters for Muscle-Derived Stem Cells in Mice.

result Preclinical publication captured from PubMed/Europe PMC; effect details require paper-level extraction.

AnimalPMID 40360507

Preclinical / mechanistic research

tested mouse · GDF8 and activin A blockade protects against GLP-1-induced muscle loss while enhancing fat loss in obese male mice and non-human primates.

result Preclinical publication captured from PubMed/Europe PMC; effect details require paper-level extraction.

AnimalPMID 41359200

Preclinical / mechanistic research

tested rat · Effect of high-intensity interval training and resistance training on the follistatin and myostatin levels in gastrocnemius muscle of aged female rats.

result Preclinical publication captured from PubMed/Europe PMC; effect details require paper-level extraction.

AnimalPMID 41822843

Preclinical / mechanistic research

tested mouse · Effect of Goat Meat on Muscle Atrophy Induced by Dexamethasone in Mice.

result Preclinical publication captured from PubMed/Europe PMC; effect details require paper-level extraction.

AnimalPMID 41876797

Preclinical / mechanistic research

tested mouse · Active immunization against myostatin and activin A improves skeletal muscle performance in growth hormone-deficient mice.

result Preclinical publication captured from PubMed/Europe PMC; effect details require paper-level extraction.

AnimalPMID 42647268

Preclinical / mechanistic research

tested mouse · Age-Dependent Effect of Myostatin Blockade in the <i>mdx</i> Mouse Model of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD).

result Preclinical publication captured from PubMed/Europe PMC; effect details require paper-level extraction.

In vitroPMID 20385559

Preclinical / mechanistic research

tested Characterization of the ligand binding functionality of the extracellular domain of activin receptor type IIb.

result In-vitro publication captured from PubMed/Europe PMC; assay details require paper-level extraction.

In vitroPMID 21135108

Preclinical / mechanistic research

tested Prodomains of transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) superfamily members specify different functions: extracellular matrix interactions and growth factor bioavailability.

result In-vitro publication captured from PubMed/Europe PMC; assay details require paper-level extraction.

In vitroPMID 28708509

Preclinical / mechanistic research

tested GDF8 activates p38 MAPK signaling during porcine oocyte maturation in vitro.

result In-vitro publication captured from PubMed/Europe PMC; assay details require paper-level extraction.

In vitroPMID 38577502

Preclinical / mechanistic research

tested GDF-8 improves <i>in vitro</i> implantation and cryo-tolerance by stimulating the ALK5-SMAD2/3 signaling in bovine IVF embryo development.

result In-vitro publication captured from PubMed/Europe PMC; assay details require paper-level extraction.

In vitroPMID 42190600

Preclinical / mechanistic research

tested Therapeutic potential of Amentoflavone against myostatin for skeletal muscle atrophy treatment: An in silico, in vitro, and in vivo study.

result In-vitro publication captured from PubMed/Europe PMC; assay details require paper-level extraction.

Anecdotal efficacy

Community efficacy aggregate not available or did not pass volume floor

GDF-8 (Myostatin) side effects

Clinical research side effects

Clinical safety table not projected yet.

Anecdotal side effects

Symptom-relevant clinical or community evidence has not been captured for this peptide yet.

Price

Full buying guide →

1

peptidesourcehub.com

--

10 mg

$449.90

$44.99/mg

2

GB

1 mg

$56.38

$56.38/mg

3

PureHealth Peptides

--

2 mg

$199.00

$99.5/mg

4

Direct Peptides Europe

Europe

1 mg

$118.37

$118.37/mg

5

Pharma Lab Global Japan

Japan

1 mg

$120.04

$120.04/mg

6

Pharma Lab Global New Zealand

New Zealand

1 mg

$132.09

$132.09/mg

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GDF-8 (MYOSTATIN) dosing & protocol

How GDF-8 (MYOSTATIN) is dosed across research, clinician, and community sources — each evidence tier kept separate so the dose range, frequency, timing, and cycling stay visible without flattening different levels of evidence.

Research trials

Published clinical-trial protocols

Typical dose

—

0
mg
mg
mg
mg

no dose captured for this tier yet

No structured protocol details captured for this tier yet.

Clinician practice

Doctor & published-protocol guidance · n = 1

Typical dose

20 mg

typical

0
mg
mg
mg
mg

across 1 dosed source · darker = more agree

By reported cadence

Weekly20 mg · n=1

Frequency: weekly
Route: subQ

According to the single source listed for clinician practice, GDF‑8 is administered at 20 mg subcutaneously once weekly, with no specific cycling regimen described.

1 source

Anecdotal

Community-reported real-world use

Typical dose

—

0
mg
mg
mg
mg

no dose captured for this tier yet

No structured protocol details captured for this tier yet.

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